I declined to turn my Zoom camera on at work, was I wrong?

[karim]

A few people think that comment is genius but it's not.

I'd suspect you were lying if you said that to me and I'm not technology expert. Furthermore it creates another problem. A concern that OP does not have the resources to work from home.

Y'all really be playing these games with people? Because they see thru as hell

I'm on video conferences all the time and connection issues are a real problem. Sometimes people even get told not to turn their camera on because it takes up too much bandwith and fukks up the connection for everybody.

If you're afraid they'll think you're lying, you can also say yes, then disconnect and reconnect a few times, then tell them, everytime you try to turn the camera on, you loose the connection. Or you just tell them from the beginning that you have a bad connection and that's why your camera is off

 

[GoAggieGo.]

Man, you created an issue that didn’t need to be.

Your annoyed boss will definitely remember this. Probably will hear about it again come performance review time

 

[Legal]

Yeah, breh. You fukked up.

If it's a client facing meeting, you should probably expect to have to be on camera. And in most cases, it's not just for show. It helps eliminate that moment where somebody says "who's that?" when they see you included on an email. Also, it helps the client contextualize just how much your company is dedicating to their business by literally seeing the people working on it.

On top of that, we're two years deep into this pandemic, breh. People are accustomed to people looking a little shaggier than they normally would, for a variety of reasons. On top of all that, all you've gotta do is hop on and just crack a joke about them catching you in between barber visits, and you're good. If it's short notice for you, it's probably short notice for a coupe of other people on the call too. Vanity isn't really the best reason to cause friction at the office, breh.

 

[The God Poster]

Unless It’s a one on meeting I never turn my camera on. I have had a supervisor ask me to get on cam with me looking crazy tho

Took 5mins combed this nappy ass beard n threw on a hat

Even if they felt it was a problem to not get on thankfully I’m in a union so it is what it is. My management is cool for the most part

 

[Jean Jacket]

Tell them your camera is malfunctioning.

Easy.

 

[duck]

I don't understand. If your ciworks has no understanding of hairline, edge ups, ect.... why u so butthurt about yours?

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

I'm on video conferences all the time and connection issues are a real problem. Sometimes people even get told not to turn their camera on because it takes up too much bandwith and fukks up the connection for everybody.

If you're afraid they'll think you're lying, you can also say yes, then disconnect and reconnect a few times, then tell them, everytime you try to turn the camera on, you loose the connection. Or you just tell them from the beginning that you have a bad connection and that's why your camera is off

yes connection issues are real but you still have to be ready and presentable. they can ask for cameras off after they see everyone for confirmation.

don't bring excuses to people in life. that would work maybe one time and I'd tell you to get that handled.

i wouldn't take you seriously if you thought you could continue to skate like that.. I'd have you on a shyt list for thinking it's on me to make sure you are able to work from home effectively. if you have a bad internet connection you are not qualified for the job as it requires being online effectively.

 

[Rell Lauren]

If it's one thing that came out of COVID and working from home is how poorly people groom themselves if they aren't required to. Even when I grew my hair and facial hair out, I made sure it was lined up and shaped up so that it was somewhat presentable especially when I started going back to the office.

I never turn my camera on because I don't need people to see my home. Not that it's messy, but because people are nosy.

 

[Dr. Acula]

Tbh, you dudes overthink how much people care how you look. At least, in an informal situation. As long as you don't look like a COMPLETE bum, you're usually fine. I know we do this shyt for ourselves but in your situation, the hair and lineup wouldn't be that big of a deal for me in that type of situation. Especially if I'm at home. People expect you to be less informal in that situation.

But if I was you and it really bothers you that much, I would have straight up said to my boss in a side chat or something that you're not looking your best and don't want to give a bad impression to the client. Hell, I would have said it straight like that on the call because you can make a joke out of it to some extent and avoid an uncomfortable or tense situation. I would be like, I'm not trying to be difficult but I admit I'm a bit vain and I need to clean up a bit so maybe another time. Unless you're dealing with a complete uptight dude, I would usually get some laughs and understanding with that type of comment.

I understand everyone different though.

 

[SheWantTheD]

you shouldve just turned the shyt on
white people dont get the nuances of black male grooming and wouldnt have cared anyway

If you look crazy you look crazy.

If OP comes in to work beard lined up and with a bald shaven head then yeah.

he gets on the zoom call, his receded hairline is showing and he looking rough of course they will notice regardless of race

 

[desjardins]

I went a whole year without any of my coworkers ever seeing me or knowing what i look like cause i never turned my camera on....so i get it
same time this seems like outsiders were on the zoom and you were basically insubordinate to your boss in front of them
over a bad shape up? seems weird to risk it over that

 

[Huda2daf]

The company is doing that to make sure you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing and where you’re supposed to be. My job does the same thing, it took me a min to figure out why it was such a big deal for an hour meeting once or twice a month but then it hit me. There are gray areas in this work from home game they’re still trying to figure out. You might have just brought yourself some unwanted attention and they gonna be monitoring you more closely

i work from home and everything I do is on the level and transparent for this very reason. I know these crackers looking for any reason to fire my black ass

 

[DJSmooth]

White people don't know wtf a hairline is. I'm sure we all look the same to them.

When I ain't had a haircut in a min I keep a dad hat near the computer and toss it on if I need to be on video.

 

[Lord Beasley]

i never cut my zoom cam on for work you're fine

 

[igottabaldhead]

If you look crazy you look crazy.

If OP comes in to work beard lined up and with a bald shaven head then yeah.

he gets on the zoom call, his receded hairline is showing and he looking rough of course they will notice regardless of race

thank you breh, this was basically my main point of my thread.

Everyone literally knows me for being the most clean/well dressed/best smelling person in office. My barber appointment is every other Friday, this call just caught me offguard in between cuts and I admittedly looked dusty and hyper self conscious of it.